Grade 5 and 6 students at Kay Bingham Elementary School in Kamloops will get a chance to ask questions of Canadian astronaut Jennifer Sidey-Gibbons today.

It was initiated by teacher Lisa Pye, who says she was researching about space, and thought it would be a great idea if her students could have some face time with an astronaut.

“I know that the beginning is a presentation for us and they are introducing a junior astronaut program, and they are trying to get students interested in I think design thinking, health and fitness, and science. So they’ll talk about their program and then they’ll have time for questions at the end.”

Pye says she applied to the Canadian Space Agency eighteen months ago, and says she’s thrilled for her students.

“It’s really impossible as a teacher to predict what will capture a student’s imagination so I’m excited to expose them to something that might spark some of them,” she added. “I’m really grateful that the CSA does these kinds of outreach programs for students. I know that Chris Hadfield too was inspired by seeing astronauts when he was a kid so, here’s hoping right?”

Pye says her students have been thinking about lots of questions to ask Sidey-Gibbons when they get their face to face time between 10 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. today.

“I hope they develop an interest in space and science in general and innovation,” Pye said. “I know the world that’s ahead of them is full of complex challenges, so I want them to be excited to take on challenges and feel excited.”

(Photo via Canadian Space Agency)